Newcastle United are set to seal a deal for Freiburg star Papiss Cisse, Sky Sports understands.

The 26-year-old has emerged as one of the most feared strikers in Germany over the past 18 months.

The likes of Arsenal, Tottenham, Blackburn and Aston Villa have all been strongly linked whilst Sunderland were understood to be close to sealing a deal last summer.

The deal, which will be worth around £10million, is sure to shock many as it was thought Newcastle’s only target this month would be a new central defender.

SOURCE: Sky Sports

Well this is something of a shock. Alan Pardew must have spent some time persuading owner Mike Ashley to open his wallet to help bring in Papiss Cisse and the Senegal international is a quality player who can no doubt add further quality up front but will lead many to wonder if goal machine Demba Ba may be on his way out.

Cisse has been a hugely prolific marksman in the Bundesliga over the past two and a half years, netting 39 goals in 65 appearances for the fairly average Freiburg after a solid career with Metz, primarily in the second tier of French football.

Cisse is said to be on his way from his African Nation Cup camp, coincidentally shared with Magpies striker Ba, ahead of a medical the 26 year old is set to undergo today.

A number of Premier League sides were said to be interested in the Dakar born striker but Newcastle United’s good form over the first half of the season must have helped persuade Cisse to make the move to St James’ Park.

Clearly Alan Pardew was not happy with the striking alternatives available to him with the likes of Leon Best, Sammy and Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands not being the most prolific of marksman.